running

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The 2017 Chicago Marathon BQ Mix - Music Mix For Your Run

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In support of my friend Sheri Matthews, who ran the 2017 Chicago Marathon, I created this running mix for her to listen to while she ran the streets of Chicago. It’s a one-hour, mix with BPMs from 130 to 100, perfect for your run or a race where you are attempting to qualify for the Boston Marathon … which Sheri did listening to this music.

So yeah, I’ll take partial credit.

Setlist

  • Tony Bennett - Chicago
  • Drake - Passionfruit (Mr. Collipark Remix)  
  • DJ Kool - Let Me Clear My Throat (Ronnie Lopez Snake Bootleg)  
  • Britney Spears - Work Bitch (Select Mix Remix)
  • Afro Rican - Give It All You Got
  • Fergie - Fergalicious
  • Run D.M.C. vs The Scene Kings vs Aylen - It's Tricky Wild Style (LOCZI Show Edit)
  • Run D.M.C. vs Reid Stefan - It's Like That (Kaos Bootleg)
  • Kesha  - Die Young (PeteDown Acapella Out)
  • DJ Dan & WhiteNoize - Hey Ho  
  • Missy Elliott - Work It (Mayeda Remix)  
  • DMX - Party Up (Ruen & Mister Gray Remix)
  • Lauv - I Like Me Better  
  • Steve Winwood - Higher Love
  • Justin Timberlake ft Jay-Z vs Biggie & Next - Suit & Tie (Too Juicy Blend)
  • Tori Kelly - Nobody Love (Select Mix Remix)
  • Mase - Feel So Good (Select Mix Remix)
  • Sam Hunt - House Party (Bpm Supreme ReDrum)  
  • Avicii ft Zac Brown Band - Broken Arrows
  • Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life (Lost Kings Remix)
  • X Ambassadors - Unsteady (Boehm Remix)  
  • Calvin Harris vs Tinie Tempah - Girl Bounce (Schoeny Bootleg)  
  • Pink - Raise Your Glass
  • 50 Cent ft Olivia - Candy Shop (Michael Noiser Bootleg)  
  • Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It (Jeff Nang Future House Remix)
  • Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Ummet Ozcan Remix)
  • Ja Rule - Livin' It Up

Want this mix? Download it here.

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2016 Los Angeles Marathon - Fitbit Fitness DJ

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San Diego DJ, Justin Kanoya, with the Fitbit crew at the 2016 Los Angeles Marathon.

San Diego DJ, Justin Kanoya, with the Fitbit crew at the 2016 Los Angeles Marathon.

The mile 22 cheer station at the Los Angeles Marathon had nearly as many cowbells for cheerleaders as there were runners ... okay, not really. But if you wanted a Fitbit cowbell, you received a Fitbit cowbell.

At the beginning of 2015 I wrote down a list of goals and among them were to DJ an event with at least 10,000 people and DJ at the start line of a major running event. Of course, if that second goal was met, that first one was pretty much in the bag.

A year later, I’m happy to report that I can essentially check mark both, thanks to my friends at Fitbit.

As one of the corporate sponsors for the Los Angeles Marathon, that took place on February 14, Fitbit has a major presence at all things related to the event. From the race expo, to a tent at the finish line to a cheer station at Mile 22. And that’s where I came in.

I was set-up -- along with a handful of amazing members of Fitbit’s marketing team and super volunteer Erin -- at Mile 22 to play music and cheer on runners as they made their final 4-mile push to the end.

And while it wasn’t at the start line, I can now check off “DJ for several thousand people” (20,000+ runners) and “DJ at a major running event” (the LA Marathon is kind of a big deal). You can even read about my own LA moment, with Josh Duhamel, which will probably go down as one of the most unreal coincidences in my life.


Lastly, I still have not run a marathon myself, but I can now say I DJ’d one, and in a way it was a marathon all on it’s own.

Here’s what a six hour setlist looks like.

  • Anuhea - Higher Than The Clouds
  • Crystal Bowersox - Midnight Train to Georgia
  • Oasis - Wonderwall
  • Magic! - No Way No
  • Flo Rida - My House
  • Prince Royce f./Snoop Dogg - Stuck On A Feeling
  • Charli XCX f./Rita Ora - Doing It
  • Iggy Azalea f./Jennifer Hudson - Trouble
  • Coldplay - Adventure Of A Lifetime
  • Aloe Blacc - The Man
  • Fifth Harmony - Sledgehammer
  • OneRepublic - Love Runs Out
  • Maroon 5 - Maps
  • Pitbull f./G.R.L. - Wild Wild Love
  • Demi Lovato f./Cher Lloyd - Really Don't Care
  • Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)
  • Pink - So What
  • Ariana Grande f./Zedd - Break Free
  • Kid N Play - Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody (Select Mix Remix)
  • Monie Love - It's A Shame
  • MC Hammer - Turn This Mutha Out (Select Mix Remix)
  • Coolio - 1-2-3-4 (Sumpin' New) (Select Mix Remix)
  • Mariah Carey - Emotions (Select Mix Remix)
  • US3 - Cantaloop
  • Tony Toni Tone - Feels Good
  • Imagine Dragons - On Top Of The World
  • Lorde - Team (Select Mix Remix)
  • Fergie - L.A. Love (La La) (Select Mix Remix)
  • Natalie La Rose, Jeremih - Somebody (Select Mix Remix)
  • Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life (Select Mix Remix)
  • Paramore - Ain't It Fun (Select Mix Remix)
  • Ariana Grande f./Iggy Azalea - Problem
  • Ja Rule - Livin' It Up (Select Mix Remix)
  • Nelly - Hot In Here
  • Wayne Wonder - No Letting Go
  • Fat Joe - Get It Poppin'
  • Big Tymers - This Is How We Do
  • Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
  • K7 - Come Baby Come
  • Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation (Select Mix Remix)
  • C&C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat
  • Icona Pop - Emergency (Ghassemi Remix)
  • Alesso - Heroes (Basic Tape Remix)  
  • DNCE - Cake By The Ocean (Select Mix Remix)
  • Ed Sheeran - Sing
  • Pitbull, John Ryan - Fireball (Select Mix Remix)
  • Clean Bandit, Jess Glynne - Rather Be (Select Mix Remix)
  • Chromeo - Jealous (I Ain't With It) (Select Mix Remix)
  • Afrojack, Mike Taylor - SummerThing (Select Mix Remix)
  • Ariana Grande, Zedd - Break Free (Select Mix Remix)
  • Maroon 5 - Sugar
  • Robin Thicke f./Nicki Minaj - Back Together (Clean Edit)
  • Tupac - California Love (Original Version)
  • Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg, Kurup & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode
  • Dawin f./Silento - Dessert (Remix)
  • Jackson 5 - I Want You Moombahback (FeestDJRuud & Naffz Bootleg)
  • Beyonce ft Jay-Z - Crazy In Love (Mayeda Remix)  
  • Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On (Mayeda Remix)
  • Discotron - Disco Ballin'  
  • DJ Cassidy f./Chromeo - Future Is Mine (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
  • INXS - New Sensation (Edge Remix)
  • J. Geils Band - Centerfold
  • Paula Abdul - Forever Your Girl
  • Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
  • Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (Select Mix Remix)
  • Madonna - Holiday
  • Beastie Boys - Brass Monkey
  • Young MC - Bust A Move
  • Usher, Nicki Minaj - She Came To Give It To You (Select Mix Remix)
  • Justin Bieber - Love Yourself (RENAIR Uptempo ReDrum Edit)  
  • Disclosure ft Sam Smith vs Justin Faust - Latch (Digital Dave Disco Fix)
  • Avicii - Broken Arrows (Promo Only M-22 Intro Edit)
  • Adele - When We Were Young (DiscoTech 2AM Radio Edit)
  • Milky Chance - Stolen Dance (Uptempo Pop Mix)
  • Beyonce - 7/11 (Tracy Young's Smack It In The Air Radio Edit)
  • Nicki Minaj - The Night Is Still Young
  • Jess Glynne - Hold My Hand
  • LunchMoney Lewis - Bills (Promo Only Clean Edit)
  • Zedd f./Selena Gomez - I Want You To Know
  • Prince f./Zooey Deschanel - FALLINLOVE2NITE
  • Charlie Puth - One Call Away (Lash Radio Edit)
  • Krewella - Enjoy The Ride
  • Calvin Harris & Disciples - How Deep Is Your Love
  • Nelly Furtado - Do It
  • Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live)
  • Walk The Moon - Shut Up & Dance (G Duppy Remix)
  • A-Ha - Take On Me (Kygo Remix)
  • Disclosure ft Sam Smith - Latch (G Duppy Reggae Remix)
  • Mutya Buenya - Real Girl
  • Mack Wilds - Love In The 90z
  • Nelly f./Jeremih - The Fix (Riddler Remix - Clean)
  • Years & Years - King
  • OMI - Hula Hoop
  • Demi Lovato - Cool For The Summer
  • Hailee Steinfeld - Love Myself
  • Rudimental f./Ed Sheeran - Lay It All On Me
  • Tove Lo - Talking Body
  • Ariana Grande - One Last Time
  • Mariah Carey - Heartbreaker
  • Heavy D & The Boyz & Al B. Sure! - We Got Our Own Thang
  • Mase - Feel So Good
     
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2015 Miles for Melanoma 5k - DeAnza Cove San Diego

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I’m a runner and have many half marathons, 10ks and 5ks on the soles of my running shoes. However this was the first time I got to set the vibe for a running event, serving as DJ for the Miles for Melanoma 5k pre and post race festivities.

This race took place on the shore of DeAnza Cove in San Diego California. It was facilitated by High Performance Movement, and raises funds for melanoma research. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer affecting more than 70,000 new people each year. For more information visit the Melanoma Research Foundation website.

I had a great time providing the upbeat beats and also working alongside the great HP Movement crew.

Here’s the setlist:

  • Paolo Nutini - New Shoes
  • Eric Hutchinson - All Over Now
  • Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al
  • American Authors - Best Day Of My Life (Single Edit)
  • Will.I.Am f./Justin Bieber - #THATPOWER (Single Edit)
  • Carly Rae Jepsen - I Really Like You
  • Pitbull f./Chris Brown - Fun (Clean)
  • Jess Glynne - Hold My Hand (Chris Lake Radio Edit)
  • Carly Rae Jepsen - I Really Like You
  • Zedd f./Jon Bellion - Beautiful Now
  • Jason Mraz - On Love, In Sadness
  • Barenaked Ladies - Odds Are
  • Jack Johnson - Sitting Waiting Wishing
  • Icona Pop - Emergency (Super Clean Radio Edit)
  • Clean Bandit f./Jess Glynne - Real Love
  • LunchMoney Lewis - Bills (Promo Only Clean Edit)
  • Maroon 5 f./Nicki Minaj - Sugar (Remix - Clean)
  • Years & Years - King
  • Flo Rida f./Robin Thicke & Verdine White - I Don't Like It, I Love It
  • Ella Henderson - Ghost (Dave Aude Remix)
  • Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
  • Daft Punk f./Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Avicii ft Zac Brown Band - Broken Arrows (Intro Clean)
  • Mark Ronson f./Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract (Short Edit)
  • The Whispers - Rock Steady (Radio Edit)
  • Ingrid Michaelson - Afterlife
  • Flo Rida f./Sage The Gemini - GDFR (Goin' Down For Real) (Promo Only Clean Edit)
  • Afrojack f./Wrabel - Ten Feet Tall
  • Mariah Carey - Emotions (Select Mix Remix)
My friend Kylee Molloy finished first the race as the first overall female. Congratulations Kylee!

My friend Kylee Molloy finished first the race as the first overall female. Congratulations Kylee!

Kristen Albair shares her melanoma survival story with race attendees.

Kristen Albair shares her melanoma survival story with race attendees.

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#NPSummit 2015

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Traveling to Utah for miles, smiles and hugs

Sheila and I on the podium. We didn't win, but that doesn't mean we can't pose on the podium.

In August 2014 I attended my first November Project - San Diego workout, which is a free fitness group, started by two guys in Boston in 2011. NP is now comprised of tribes in 25 cities across four time zones in the United States and Canada.

I’ve written about it before, so no need to rehash on why it was one of the catalysts for change in my life in this past year, but yes it’s been wonderful meeting new people and gaining new experiences.

One such experience is the feeling of being a part of a team when training and competing in various races. Before joining NP, I used to run races, not necessarily alone, but feeling like just another face in the crowd, another pair of legs running miles. Joining a run club/fitness group is one way to gain an immediate support system, both on and off the course.

Now when I race I have this comforting feeling seeing people I know running alongside me. Or hearing a spectator yell my name as I pass them. And then there is the person that does not even know me, but knows my tagged, “grassroots gear” shirt that reads “November Project,” and I hear  a hearty “Go NP!”

Before NP I also had never run a race outside of San Diego. Now, in the past year, I’ve participated in the Ragnar SoCal Relay Race (Huntington Beach), Mammoth Half Marathon, Lululemon Seawheeze Half Marathon (Vancouver) and most recently the Park City, Utah stop for the North Face Endurance Challenge Series.

One would think that these destination races would mean an absence of all the great things I mentioned. But it’s actually quite the opposite, because each of those trips/races has been taken with November Project - San Diego friends and meeting new NP friends at those destinations. However, none have been more bigger than the Park City Trip.

This race was the designated location for November Project’s annual leadership summit. A gathering of the leaders of all the NP tribes. This alone generates more than 50 motivating and selfless individuals. Additionally, those leaders brought with them representatives from their 25 respective tribes. In total there were well over 400 … maybe 500 grassroots gear wearing people.

November Project Boston poses for a group photo.

November Project Boston poses for a group photo.

Every Monday and Wednesday morning in San Diego, It’s always amazing for me to see an average estimate of 75 people showing up on early mornings to have their heart rate stretched to capacity. But to see this gathering of hundreds from all over North America was moving.

At one point, after I finished my run, I was sitting in the middle of all the chaos (which in this case was smiling faces, arms hugging, legs dancing and overall euphoria).

I observed all of these happy and supportive human beings and was hit with this crazy realization: This is all because two people, Brogan Graham and Bojan Mandaric, wanted to stay in shape and workout during the month of November a few years ago. Just two guys, issuing a challenge to one another and growing it into continent wide community.

It’s a testament that we are never alone. That there are always people within the race and along the sidelines cheering us on. That there are hundreds of people waiting to join whatever movement you want to bring forward.

And that our hopes and dreams are worth exploring, because one day they might actually amount to something.

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I’m Going, Going, Back, Back to Canada, Canada

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My passport and headphones are ready to go to the Lululemon Managers Conference. 

My passport and headphones are ready to go to the Lululemon Managers Conference. 

Years ago I read one of those lists that was bullet pointed with life tips. One of those tips said to make sure to always have a valid passport, because you never know when you might get the urge to leave the country.

Thankfully I’ve followed that advice, because I'll need my passport next month. I’m going to Vancouver, B.C. again. Returning to "Van" -- as the locals call it -- for the second time in less than two months.

When I was there in August it was to run 13.1 Seawheeze Half Marathon miles. This time it’s to DJ for 1,000-plus Lululemon employees and guests at their annual manager's conference.

Just to reiterate that .... I'm DJ'ing Lululemon's worldwide conference in Vancouver. 

It's a bit surreal. Especially when I realize it's all because of a 1,000-word blog post that got shared around the world. A post that was read by more then 10,000 people, and from I've been told, touched hearts, brought chills and even tears of joy. 

I didn't write it expecting anything. I just wanted to say thank you. I suppose it's true what people say about finding things when you least expect it.

For the past few years I used to sit in an office, knowing there was a better way for me to contribute to this world. To do so I needed to be in a different place. I knew there was a conversation that I could feel comfortable participating in. 

You find those places and conversations by engaging with others that want to take you there, and I'm glad I'm finding those people. 

Brett Timmons, a Lululemon Key Leader in San Diego (and one of those aforementioned people), said it best "don't tell someone at Lululemon your 'big hairy audacious goal' if you don't want it to come true."

That might be the best mistake I've made.